Monoclonal Antibodies Cost $100G More Per Year When Used for Cancer, Study in The American Journal of Managed Care® Finds
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The idea for monoclonal antibodies was first conceived more than a century ago, with the objective of directing a toxin against syphilis. But the drugs gained traction in the 1980s when scientists developed a "human" antibody that did not produce so many harsh side effects. Some of the best-known specialty drugs on the market today-Humira for rheumatoid arthritis, or Avastin for many types of cancer-are monoclonal antibodies. So are PCSK9 inhibitors, the powerful drugs to fight cholesterol that gained notice with their
Controlling for routes of administration, time on the market, and even their chemical structure, Hernandez and her co-authors made an interesting discovery: while monoclonal antibodies might all work the same basic way, the ones that fight cancer cost about
The authors had some thoughts on these pricing patterns: To recover development costs, "manufacturers set higher prices for drugs used for a short period of time or for drugs indicated in rare conditions," they wrote. For example, the most expensive drug in the study, which has an annual price of
"Duration of treatment is usually shorter in cancer, where drugs are commonly used for weeks or months, than in other disease states where drugs may be used for years," they wrote.
Finally, in cancer, patients and clinicians have fewer options for treatment-so price may be less of a deterrent. Moreover, policies that require Medicare Part D plans to pay for all cancer drugs feed this behavior, the authors suggest.
"As the prices of prescription drugs and particularly, of specialty drugs, continue to grow, it will be especially important to implement some value framework where pharmaceutical prices are justified on the benefits they bring to patients," said Hernandez. About The American Journal of Managed Care®: The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) is a peer-reviewed, MEDLINE-indexed journal that keeps readers on the forefront of health policy by publishing research relevant to industry decision makers as they work to promote the efficient delivery of high-quality care. AJMC.com is the essential website for managed care professionals, distributing industry updates daily to leading stakeholders. Other titles in the AJMC® family include The American Journal of Accountable Care®, and two evidence-based series, Evidence-Based Oncology™ and Evidence-Based Diabetes Management™. These comprehensive offerings bring together stakeholder views from payers, providers, policymakers and other industry leaders in managed care. To order reprints of articles appearing in AJMC® publications, please contact
Keywords for this news article include: Biotechnology, Cancer, Oncology, Immunology, Blood Proteins, Immunoproteins, Immunoglobulins, Serum Globulins, Health and Medicine, Monoclonal Antibodies,
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